Mariusz Wach vs Kevin Johnson Preview June 12th
Veteran heavyweights Mariusz Wach and Kevin Johnson will be meeting in Wach’s home nation of Poland this Friday, June 12th. The 10-round fight is being billed as for the vacant Polish International Heavyweight Title even though Johnson hails from Asbury Park, New Jersey. Wach last fought in December when he dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to Dillian Whyte. Johnson last saw action in October when he was stopped in the fifth round by Martin Bakole.
Wach vs Johnson Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Kevin Johnson +850
- Mariusz Wach -2500
My Pick
The 40-year-old Wach hails from Krakow and is definitely the bigger boxer here as he’s just over 6-feet-7-inches tall and has a wingspan of 82 inches. He isn’t really a power puncher though with a current knockout ratio of 46.3 per cent. He enters the ring with a record of 35-6 with 19 Kos. Wach turned pro in 2005 and has quite a bit of experience with 249 rounds under his belt. Along with being stopped by Jarrell Miller in nine rounds in 2017 he was also stopped by Alexander Povetkin by 12th-round TKO in 2015.
In addition, he was halted in eight rounds in April, 2019 by Martin Bakole for the vacant Polish International Heavyweight Title. Wach once failed in an attempt at a world title in the past as he dropped a unanimous decision to Wladimir Klitschko in 2012 and his other loss was a 10-round split decision to fellow countryman Artur Szpilka in November, 2018.
Wach stopped two opponents with losing records last September and October after losing three straight to Miller, Szpilka and Bakole and before his defeat to Whyte. Most of Wach’s other opponents have mainly been journeymen with the most recognizable names being Kevin McBride, Tye Fields, Galen Brown, Jason Gavern, Julius Long, Arthur Cook, Travis Walker and Marcelo Luiz Nascimento.
Wach, who has also participated in mixed martial arts, had a good amateur career and was a Polish National Champion. He won a silver medal at the European Union Championships and was an Olympic alternate for Poland in 2004. Since turning pro he’s captured the IBF East/West Europe, WBC International, WBC Baltic, TWBA, and Polish International Heavyweight Titles.
Johnson is also 40 years old and climbs into the ring with a record of 34-16-1 along with 18 Kos. He’s been beaten by Bakole, Oleksandr Zakhozhyi, Shigabudin Aliev, Nathan Gorman, Daniel Dubois, Tor Hamer, Tyson Fury, Petar Milas, Filip Hrgovic, Andy Ruiz Jr, Christian Hammer, Dereck Chisora, Manuel Charr, Anthony Joshua, Kubrat Pulev and Vitali Klitschko. Johnson’s only been stopped three times though; by Bakole, Milas and Joshua.
Milas halted him in the eighth round in 2018 and Joshua stopped him in the second round in 2015. It’s safe to say Johnson’s best days are behind him as he’s lost his last four fights and eight of the past 10. Johnson’s a veteran ‘name’ opponent these days and so is Wach really. While Johnson is usually in decent physical shape he’s not always ready to fight and can go 12 rounds without throwing much leather at all. He’s a good defensive boxer, but needs to throw punches to win.
Johnson stands 6-feet-3-inches tall with an 82-inch so he gives up 4.5 inches to Wach. He’s also got plenty of experience with 331 rounds under his belt since turning pro in 2003. He needs to utilize his jab and keep Wach at bay here because Johnson doesn’t have much in the way of power with a knockout percentage of just 35.3 per cent. Basically, Johnson needs to show up to fight not just to last the distance.
Johnson’s best wins have come over boxers such as Bruce Seldon, Devin Vargas, Alex Leapai, Solomon Haumono, Damian Willis and Francesco Pianeta. He’s usually been competitive when stepping up in class, but has either been stopped or came out on the wrong end of a decision. Since turning pro he’s won the IBO International, and IBF Australasian Heavyweight Titles.
Prediction…
Johnson’s boxing skills, reach, chin and defensive tactics could prove frustrating for Wach. Johnson’s also been fighting all over Europe lately and since this bout won’t have any fans in attendance it could be a tossup. Wach’s height advantage should help and he didn’t look to bad against Whyte in December so I’m expecting him to win a close contest.
I’ll go with the bigger Wach as Johnson has lost four in a row.
Play: Wach -2500@ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Kevin Johnson betting • Mariusz Wach betting